Collapsible aircraft seats



- Ap 15, 1958 I H. BRUMBY 2,830,652

COLLAPSIBLE AIRCRAFT SEATS Filed May 4, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hum- BY NVENTOR B WQM -93. ATTORNEYS April 15, 1958 H. BRUMBY COLLAPSIBLE AIRCRAFT SEATS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 4, 1954 HAeoI-D INVENTOR B MQMA Ann... m ATTORNEYS.

April 15, 1958 H. BRUMBY 2,830,652

COLLAPSIBLE AIRCRAFT SEATS Filed May 4, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 HAROLD Bmmay INVENTOR e mw h- 4a. ATTORNEY3 United States Patent:

assasss coLLArsruLu ArncnAnT SEATS Harold iirurnby, Elloughton, Brough, England, assignor to Blackburn and General Aircraft Limited, Brough, East Yorkshire, Engiand, a British company Application May 4, 1954, Serial No. 427,635 Claims priority, application Great Britain May 15, 1953 4 Claims. (Cl. 155-139) This invention relates to chairs, more particularly for use in aircraft, and has for its object to provide a construction of chair for permanent or temporary installation, designed to withstand a high degree of loading with a fair standard of passenger comfort.

A further object of the invention is to provide a light weight non-luxury passenger chair, in particular a rearward facing chair for attachment directly to and only to the floor.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such chair as a single, double or triple seat unit for temporary installation which will fold almost flat for convenient storage when not in use.

With these objects in view, the chair according to the present invention comprises a pair of elongated substantially triangular girder members spaced apart at their wider ends by a channel section member with a brace extending from a narrower point of the one member to the wider point of the other, a pair of substantially triangular sub-girder members connected at their Wider ends to the wider ends of the main girder members, a back supporting frame carried by the sub-girder members, a seat supporting frame connected to the main girder members and supported by a pair of struts extending from points intermediate the lengths of the side members of the seat supporting frame to the region of the apices of the main girder members, and a pair of struts for supporting the main girder members in operative position extending from the wider ends thereof, in a construction in which bending and torsion loads are resisted by the main girder members and the struts and bracing are subjected to end loads only. The chair constructed in accordance with the invention as defined above is economical in requiring aminimum of parts whilst the design gives lightness in weight with adequate strength and upholstery applied to such ,structureaffords an adequate degree of passenger comfort.

As applied to a folding chair, the chair according to the present invention has its supporting struts pivotally connected to the wider ends of the girder members and the seat frame supporting struts either formed as toggles or pivotally connected to the wider ends and separably connected adjacent the apices of the girder members, with the connections of the seat frame .tothe girder members also formed as pivots, such that the supporting struts may be folded against the main girders and the seat will fold down with the seat supporting struts projecting beyond the end thereof so that the upholstery of the seat is protected from contact with the ground when the fold chair is stood up on end as during storage.

Still further, according to the present invention, the sub-girders are each at one base corner pivotally connected to its main girder member and its other base corner is connected to a latchable displaceable member such that the angle of the back frame relative to the seatframe may be altered. Inthis embodiment, the displaceable member conveniently-has alternative positions and may be controlled by the passenger to change the angle of the back of the chair at will from an alert to. a reclining position.

The pivotal connection of each sub-girder to its main girder may be a direct pivotal connection or it may be indirect by connection to a part which is made fast to the main girder.

According to yet another feature of the invention, particularly as applied to a rearward-facing chair, the back frame and seat frame each form the boundary of a thin gauge light alloy plate dished to catenary form. The

upholstery of the back and seat is conveniently detachable as by extending the edges of the covering around the respective frame members and securing them by studs, screws or other convenient means.

The back frame and seat frame as well as the struts are preferably tubular members of circular or square section and whilst the main and sub-girder members may be fabricated or plate they are preferably light alloy forgings of substantially U-section with or without stiffening ribs. The arm-rest is similarly a forging, and preferably is formed with an integral socket to receive the arm of a detachable table, with upholstery applied thereto and containing, if desired, an inset ashtray, glass holder or other fitting.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into efiect embodiments are, by way of example, hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings which are given for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation and in which:

t Figure 1 is a front elevation of a seat with part of the back upholstery broken away;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a seat, being a view looking on the left hand side of Figure 1 with parts of the seat and arm-rest shown in section;

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line III-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section on an enlarged scale taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, showinghow the corresponding parts of adjacent seats may be joined up to providea bank of two, three or more seats;

Figure 6 is a section on an enlarged scale taken on the line VI-VI of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the seat in folded'condition;

Figure 8 is a View similar to Figure 2 showing modified construction of seat; and

Figure 9 is another similar view showing the seat in its folded condition.

Referring now to the said drawings and in particular to Figures 1 and 2 thereof, the prises two side main-girder members 1, 2, which, in the embodiment illustrated, consist of light alloy forgings formed with a marginal flange 1 and desirably also with stiffening ribs. Each of these girders f, 2 is of elongated substantially triangular shape, as seen in side elevation, and at its apex is intended to be secured to a fitment up standing from the floor as by means of a pin for which purpose an aperture 3 is thereat provided. The two girder members 1, 2 are spaced apart by a transverse member 5 of channel section (see Figure 6) which extends across between the wider ends of the two main girders 1, 2 and this structure is braced by a diagonal member 6 which extends from near the apex of the one girder member 2 to near the wider end of the other girder member 1, for example at or near the end of the transverse member 5.

With each of the main girders is associated a sub-girder 7, 8 each of which is also of substantially triangular seat ccnstruction'comshape and may comprise either a forging or a plate. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the subgirder 7 is pivotally connected at 9 to a part 10, which is made fast by means of bolts 11, 12 to the main girder '1. These sub-girders 7, 8 carry a back supporting'tubular frame 13 which forms the margin of a light alloy metal plate 14 dished to catenary shape and faced with upholstery 15 conveniently of foam or sponge rubber with a fabric covering (see Figures 1 and 3).

Pivoted at 16 to the main girders 1 and 2 is a seat comprised by a tubular frame 17 forming the margin of a light alloy metal plate 18 likewise dished to catenary shape and upholstered with foam or sponge rubber with .a fabric covering 19. The frame 17 is supported in operative position by articulated or toggle struts 20, 21 extending from intermediate the lengths of the side members-of the frame 17 to adjacent the apices of the girders The sub girders 7, 8 are also each connected to parts 7.5 capable of linear movement in slots 26 in thicker portions at the wider ends of the girders 1 and 2, and each of these parts is adapted to be latched in alternative positions by means of a bolt 27 which is acted upon by a spring 28. The bolts 27 at the opposite sides of the seat are connected by cables or the like 29, 3!} to pivoted levers 31, 32 respectively, which are urged in opposite directions by a spring 33. The one lever 31 is connected to the sheath 34 of a cable, the core 35 of which is connected to the other lever 32, and the opposite end of this cable is connected to an operating lever 36 such that, on movement of the latter lever, the levers 31, 32 are moved towards one another so withdrawing the bolts 27 to permit movement of the parts 25 from their one position to the other to permit a displacement of the back relative to the seat from a reclining position to an alert position, which is facilitated by springs 37' extending between flanges of the girders 1 and 2 and the side members of the back supporting frame, and movement into the reclining position against the action of such spring.

Pivotally connected to the end of the part 10 is an arm-rest 38 conveniently in the form of a light alloy forging and formed with a socket to receive the arm of a detachable table and with an aperture to contain an ashtray, the arm-rest also being padded with foam or sponge rubber with a fabric covering like the back and seat.

When not required for use, the seat may be folded flat by breaking the toggle strut 20 so that the seat swings down about its point of pivotal connection 16, by collapsing the struts 22 against the main girders 1, 2, and by swinging up the arm-rests so that the parts assume the position shown in Figure 7.

When it is desired to form a bank of two, three or more seats, the appropriate number of seats are put up side by side then the parts 10 of the adjacent seats may be held together by a common means also holding those parts to the adjacent girders 1, 2, namely the long bolts 39, 40. In this case the individual arm-rest forging 38 is replaced by a wider forging the end of which will embrace the two ends of the parts 10.

In a modified construction shown in Figure 8 the girders 1, 2 are formed with integral lugs 42 to which the arm-rest forgings 43 are pivoted and in this case the sub-girders 7, 8 are directly pivoted at 44 to the wider ends of their respective'main girders 1, 2. Also in this embodiment the toggle struts 20 and 21 are replaced by struts 45 pivotally connected at 46 to the side members 4 of the seat frames 17 and separably connected to the apices of the girders 1, 2.

With this construction of chair, the main girder members 1 and 2, which in operative position are at an angle to the floor, resist the bending and torsion loads of the back, seat and arms, and the struts 22, 20 and bracing 6 are subject only to end loads so that the construction is light, yet robust.

The upholstery provides an adequate degree of passenger comfort and the adjustability of the angle of the hack gives alternative sitting attitudes whilst unencumbered space between the side members of adjacent seat gives the passenger ample room to stretch his legs under the seat in front.

I claim:

1. A foldable passenger chair for attachment to the floor of an aircraft, comprising a pair of spaced apart elongated substantially triangular plategirder members,

a channel section member connected to both of said girder members at their wider ends to maintain the spacing therebetween, means for connecting the apices of said girder members to said floor, brace means extending from a narrower end of one of said girder members to a wider end of the other, a pair of substantially triangular plate sub-girder members connected at their wider ends to the wider ends of said girder members, respectively, back-supporting frame means carried by said sub-girder members, a sheet metal back connected to and reinforcing said back-supporting frame, seat-supporting frame means connected to said girder members and including a pair of side members, a first pair of struts extending from the region of the apices of said girder members, respectively, to intermediate points along said side members of said seat-supporting frame means, respectively, said first pair of struts being foldable outwardly of and projecting beyond the forward edge of the seat when the chair is folded, a second pair of struts connected respectively to the wider ends of said girder members at a point above the level of the seat for maintaining the girder members in operative position, and

means for connecting said second pair of struts to said 2. A passenger chair as defined in claim 1, including first pivot means connecting said seat-supporting frame means to said girder members, and second pivot means connecting said second pair of struts to said wider ends of said girder members, respectively, whereby said chair may be collapsed and folded.

3 A' passenger chair as defined in claim 1, including third pivot means at one base corner of each of said subgirder members connecting the latter to its respective girder member, and a displaceable latch member at the other base corner of each of said sub-girder members connecting the latter with its respective girder member, whereby upon displacing said latch member the angle of the back-supporting frame means relative to the seatsupporting' frame means may be varied.

4. A passenger chair for attachment to the floor of an aircraft, comprising a pair of spaced apart elongated substantially triangular plate girder members, a channel section member connected to both of said girder memside members, a pair of thin gauge light alloy plates dished to catenary form and carried by said back-supporting and seat-supporting frame means, respectively, first pivot means connecting said side members to said girder members, a first pair of struts extending from the region of the apices of said girder members, respective ly, to intermediate points along said side members of said seat-supporting frame means, respectively, a second pair of struts, means for connecting said second pair of struts to said floor, second pivot means respectively connecting said second pair of struts to the wider ends of said girder members for maintaining the latter in operative position, the points of attachment between said second pivot means and said girder members being further from said apices of said girder members than the points of attachment between said first pivot means and said girder members, third pivot means at one base corner of each of said sub-girder members connecting the latter to its respective girder member, and a displaceable latch member at the other base corner of each of said'subgirder members connecting the latter with its respective girder member, to thereby permit changing of the angle between the back-supporting frame means and the seatsupporting frame means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

